The talking machine world (Jan-June 1919)

July 15, 1919 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD 143 Happenings in Dominion of Canada TRADE IN MONTREAL PREPARING FOR INCREASED DEMANDS New Stores Being Opened and Established Stores Enlarged — Some New Products on the Market — Higher Grade Machines Have the Call — Opera Season in Halifax Helps Sales Montreal, Can., July 7. — Despite the warm weather, which has been intense here for the past few weeks, the retail talking machine business continues to hold its own. Many dealers in fact report a business quite as healthy as that which preceded theChristmas holidays and there appear to be no visible signs of depression or slackening. The greatest demand has been for the larger and more expensive cabinet models sold in large numbers as wedding gifts for June brides. The Cosmopolitan Graphophone & Piano Co. is the only exclusive Columbia dealer on St. Lawrence Boulevard. L. Foisy, manager, has recently renovated the showrooms and added six extra soundproof demonstrating rooms. The assortment of Columbia Grafonolas is large and a most complete listing of foreign domestic records is carried in stock. L. G. Fournier & Co., 114-16 Rideau street, Ottawa, Ont., are new Brunswick dealers. Layton Bros, have been using attractive advertising copy featuring Edison machines and records. A recent announcement was devoted in its entirety to the records of Anna Case and was coincident with the appearance of this famous artiste in Montreal in the photo film "The Hidden Truth." The timeliness of this advertising, coupled with the prominence of this artiste, proved an impetus to the sale of her records. R. J. Dales, 249 Laurier avenue West, represents His Master's Voice lines in the north end and states red seal records are the prime favorites. Among recent sales made by C. W. Lindsay, Ltd., Ottawa, branch was a Sonora Grand to a prominent citizen of Hull, Que. J. J. Flynn has opened newer and larger premises at 556 St. Catherine street West, where one floor is devoted exclusively to the sale of Gerhard Heintzman phonographs and Victor records. N. G. Valiquette, of N. G. Valiquette, Ltd., one of the most important Pathe dealers in Canada, has secured the services of Albert Bienjonetti as the head of the music department of his Home Furnishing Emporium. A. J. Freiman, Ottawa, is now handling the Aeolian-Vocalion phonograph line in addition to other makes featured. Employes of Layton Bros., Edison and Columbia dealers, recently held their first annual picnic. They chartered the steamer Three Rivers with Lavaltrie as their destination. The warerooms being closed up tight for the eventful day all hands were on deck. An attractive window display of talking machines more than pays for itself, said Charles Culross, Sonora and Aeolian-Vocalion distributor. Aeolian records, for which he has the sole local distribution, are selling in goodly volume with Sonora needles enjoying immense popularity. An exclusive Pathe phonograph salon has been opened up at 232 St. Laurier avenue W. under the name of the Phonograph Sales Co. with Hector Garand and Joseph Dumont as joint managers. The Phonograph Shop of Montreal, Regd., recently demonstrated the Pathe "Actuelle." ManagerGeo. -S. Pequegtiat is most enthusiastic over the sales possibilities of this latest Pathe model. Brown's Talking Machine Shop (S. H. Brown, proprietor) is well satisfied with the second morfth's business, June sales in His Master's -^^oice lines proving most successful. Mr. Bfdwn is looking forward to a good live fall business. J. B. O'Brien has resumed the management of the talking machine department of C. W. Lindsay, Ltd., Ottawa, after doing "his bit" for a number of years in France. The Berliner Gramophone Co., Ltd., retail stores are all handling a large quantity of business, both in machines and records, and state that every year sees a heavy increase in the call for the smaller His Master's Voice lines suitable for camping and summer cottages with an enormous demand for dance records. C. W. Lindsay, Ltd., report no falling off in the demand for Columbia and Sonora machines and Columbia records. Prattephone, Ltd., St. Jerome, Que., has been incorporated to buy, sell and manufacture talking machines with a capitalization of $49,000. The Brunswick Shop is being accredited its Toronto, Ont., July 6. — It is logical that the development of the talking machine industries should generate a series of problems, the solution of which suggests the desirability of organization. One of the effects of the war upon trade has been to force a more general co-operation of those in individual industries. The piano manufacturers are strongly organized. Retailers in the different centers are organized and getting good results in saving money, making more money and educating the public to a decent appreciation of the worth of the people in the music business. Charles R. Leake, one of the proprietors of the Music Supply Co., distributors of Columbia lines, has surprised those of his friends who had supposed him to be condemned to eternal bachelorhood. Mr. Leake was married recently to Miss Marguerite Eleanor Brandon, niece of the Misses Brandon, of Richard's Landing, Ont. Harold V. Utting, of Woodstock, Ont., who recently returned after nearly four years' service overseas, has taken up his residence in the city and will join his father, John Utting, in the piano and musical instrument business, 505 Dundas street, Woodstock. While he will identify himself with all departments of the store, his particular branch of the business will be the Grafonola and record department. A newcomer in music trade circles here is H. B. Foreman, who has bought the business of the Osborne Phonograph Co., opened over two years ago by F. H. Osborne, on Broadview avenue. The Music Supply Co., distributors of Columbia Grafonolas and records, have begun their ninth business year. Their record to date is one of which the proprietors, John A. Sabine and Chas. R. I^eake, may well be proud. Unity of opinion does not exist in the talking machine trade in the question of sending out full quota of trade and is more than pleased with the number of machines delivered the past month. It is fully confident that July will far outstrip sales the same month of last year. Halifax, N. S., has just had a two weeks' season of grand opera by the Boston English Opera Co., which recently played at His Majesty's in Montreal. So successful was the local engagement that the company has prolonged its season and will return to Halifax for the week of July 7. It proved a great impetus for phonograph dealers in the call for records. The high price received for fish has created an epidemic of extravagance among the fisherfolk along the South Shore of Halifax. They think nothing of paying ten thousand dollars for a house and turn up their noses at cheap cars, preferring high-priced machines, in which they drive grandly to the fish flakes and back again. In Lunenberg alone with a population of three thousand there are nearly two hundred automobiles and four shops specializing in talking machines and pianos, each as busy as can be. records on approval. Some dealers attribute much of the increase in their record sales to the adoption of the records-on-approval plan within certain limits. Others unconditionally oppose the practice. At a banquet recently tendered the employes of the Goederich Organ Co. by its directors the musical program was furnished by the Royal talking machine, a product of this company's own plant. The occasion was the return of the president, Alex. Saunders, from his trip to Lyons Fair, in France. Following the luncheon a very informing talk on after-the-war conditions in Europe was delivered by Mr. Saunders. Long before the new Heineman OkeH records had become known in Canada the Canadian buyers of motors and phonograph supplies were well acquainted with the Otto Heineman products. But it took the OkeH records to give the final touch to the great popularity of these products. Since the OkeH record has made its way into Canada's musical homes the Toronto offices of the Otto Heineman Phonograph Supply Co., Inc., are buzzing. WINNIPEG DEALERS GIVE DINNER Complimentary Dinner Given to Morgan Kingston, Popular Columbia Artist — Victrola Brought Back From War Front Stood Three Years of War — Buried Three Times Winnipeg, Man., July 5. — A recent regular meeting of the Winnipeg Columbia Dealers' Association took the form of a complimentary luncheon tendered to the celebrated tenor and Columbia artist, Morgan Kingston. The meeting was under the chairmanship of Robt. Shaw, (Continued on page 144) Talking Machine Supplies and Repair Parts SPRINGS. SOUND BOX PARTS, NEEDLES THE RENE MANUFACTURING XO. MONTVALE, NEW JERSEY ^ SPIRIT OF ORGANIZATION PERMEATES TORONTO TRADE Lesson of Co-operation, Taught by War, Not Wasted — Charles R. Leake Deserts Bachelorhood — H. B. Foreman Buys Osborne Phonograph Co. — Goederich Organ Co. Banquets Employes